Club boats on the outside racks are there to be used by all members. Any member wishing to use a boat outside of club meetings or events, must contact the kit officer for permission.
When taking a boat from the rack, members should take note of how the boat has been placed on the rack and locked. When the boat is finished with, it should be put back on the same rack and locked in the same fashion. Members who do not do this make a lot of extra work for other, more responsible (and often angry), members.
Some of the outside racks have been rented to members for the storage of their own boats. Members must not move, use or interfere with these boats without the owners express permission. Members caught doing this may be held personally responsible for any damage or inconvenience caused. If a private boat must be moved and the owner is not available, contact a committee member.
The cage is for the storage of smaller boats and other kit. There is no space available for members kit, although bags may be locked in the cage while paddling provided they are left neatly.
Short playboats are kept vertically inside the door. An elastic retaining cord is provided an should be used to prevent the boats from falling over. Please ensure that all boats are properly drained before they are brought indoors. This helps to keep the cage dry.
The boat racks in the cage are for the storage of boats that cannot be stored vertically. Again please ensure that as much water as possible has been emptied from the boats.
When selecting buoyancy aids and cags, please take one of the correct size. Oversize buoyany aids can be hazardous, as they can slip over our head when you fall in. Be aware of which boat you are planning to use when selecting a deck, as some decks will not fit all boats.
The club has a range of paddles. These are stored on racks at the back of the cage. Select a paddle suitable for you and the activity you are undertaking. Please note that some paddles are left handed. Paddles should be put back neatly and securely on the racks.
When the club meets there are several different types of activity available to members (training, sea kayaks, silly games, short trips in short boats etc).
Members who want to do the same activity should form a group and appoint one person (ideally the most experienced) to be the leader of that group. The leader has a number of responsibilities:
Every club member who goes out on the water must be checked out on the board before they leave. Group leaders should record their name, the names of all members in their group, where they plan to go and an estimated time back. The check out board is kept on the inside of the cage door. When each group returns, the names and trip plan for that group should be erased.
Committee members' or group leaders' descisions about the ability of a member to paddle safely in the conditions present are final and the club supports those descisions. Preventing a member from paddling at any given time is not taken lightly, and is enacted entirely in the interests of the safety of that member. If the member feels they have been treated unfairly in this respect, they should contact a committee member (a different one if preferred).
As kayakers and canoeists, we are sometimes at the mercy of some potentially dangerous hazards. A few of those we face in our location are detailed below.
Falmouth is a busy area for large and small ships and other watercraft. Paddlers should be aware of other vessels of all sizes traveling to and from the dock, moorings near the docks area and moorings further upriver. Always be extra careful when crossing between the end of the docks and Trefusis point (on the Flushing side), as this can be like a watery motorway at times.
Paddlers should also be aware that ships or yachts may not be able to spot you very easily (if they are even paying attention), especially in the winter evenings when it is getting dark. Headlamps can help, but are not always visible. The best plan is to stay well out of the way of larger boats.
Sheltered though the Penryn River and Carrick Roads may seem, the chilling effects of wind can be surprising, especially after an unscheduled swim. If you are paddling any distance from the club, paddlers should dress expecting the worst to happen (that is expect to get wet). Hypothermia can really spoil an otherwise good paddle.
Apart from making you cold, the wind can present a hazard in itself. For less experienced paddlers, a strong wind can make control of the boat near impossible. Even experienced paddlers should beware of strong northerly winds when out near Black Rock the mouth of the Carrick Roads.
The tidal flow in and out of the Carrick Roads can be surprisingly fast and should be planned for, especially when crossing to the Roseland Penninsula. If in doubt, cross near low or high tide.